Race, Class, And Revolution: A Marxist Strategy For Black Liberation

For Revolutionary Marxists, there is an inextricable link between racism and capitalism. Capitalism is dependent on racism as both a source of profiteering, but more importantly as a means to divide and rule. Racism is necessary to drive a wedge between workers who otherwise have everything in common and every reason to ally and organize together, but who are perpetually driven apart to the benefit of the ruling class. Thus, any serious discussion about Black liberation has to take up not only a critique of capitalism, but also a credible strategy for ending it. For Marxists, that strategy hinges on the revolutionary potential of a unified, multiracial and multi-ethnic working-class upheaval against capitalism. Speaker: Leela Yellesetty Leela is a long time socialist and activist in Seattle, involved in diverse community struggles around women’s rights, against racism, war and inequality, among others. She is a regular contributor to SocialistWorker.org and the International Socialist Review.